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Monday, September 4, 2017

2 former Auburn defensive linemen join NFL practice squads

Released on Saturday when NFL teams reduced their 90-player rosters to meet the league regular-season limit of 53, former Auburn defensive linemen Angelo Blackson and Gabe Wright signed up for practice-squad duty on Monday.

Blackson, a defensive end who was waived by the Tennessee Titans, joined the New England Patriots, and Wright, a defensive tackle who was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles, joined the Miami Dolphins.

After joining the Titans in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Blackson had two similar seasons in Tennessee. As a rookie, he played 244 snaps with the Titans' defense (23 percent) and 113 plays on special teams. In 2016, he played 251 snaps with the Titans' defense (23 percent) and 103 plays on special teams.

But in 2015, Blackson produced 2.5 sacks and played the entire season. In 2016, he failed to record a sack and missed three games.

Miami becomes Wright's fourth NFL team since he entered the league as a fourth-round draft choice in 2015 - picked by the Detroit Lions 13 choices after the Titans took Blackson.

Wright played seven games for the Lions as a rookie. After being released by Detroit, Wright played five games in 2016 with the Cleveland Browns, who, like the Dolphins this year, signed Wright for the practice squad after he'd been let go at the end of the preseason.

Wright spent training camp with the Eagles this year and had four tackles and 1.5 sacks in Philadelphia's preseason finale on Thursday night.

There were two other NFL transactions on Monday involving players from Alabama high school and colleges. Quarterback Joe Webb (Wenonah, UAB) signed with the Bills, and wide receiver Josh Magee (Hoover, UAB, South Alabama) was released by the Atlanta Falcons with an injury settlement after being placed on injured reserve on Saturday.

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